Aiks.. I'm sweating it out dude.
Fever wor...
A continuation of the previous entry.
Actually, its a real no brainer... cause in the face of sin, we must be firm and unmoving.
"How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
"...... be on your guard against of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."
Unrepentance within unbelievers should not be so easily equated to hypocrisy. Afterall, hypocrisy is to do with 'putting on a show', to do with 'acting'. However, unrepentance has alot to do with denial... and 'acting' and 'putting on a show' has a lot to do with denial as well. And Paul's tone of extreme reprimand is appropriate in addressing this pressing matter.
Why is it appropriate?
Well, if one continues to deny Christ because he is indulging in sin, we as the body of Christ should regard the matter with utmost seriousness for it may ruin the church. Sin is not blatant as we think it is and neither is it as obvious as we think it is. That is why Paul offers such a harsh rebuke, because he is well aware of how sin can subversively penetrate the church. Sometimes, I think we are so desensitised by the world... that we miss the subtlety of sin. We think sin will either come in neon news flashes or ring our doorbells and announce its arrival with the onset of a tea party. I am victim to such desensitisation as well... I forget sin can happen. And it happens quick and quietly.
So we must nip it in the bud... and the operative word here will be repentance.
Because the aim of reprimand is the recognisation of sin followed by repentance... not a reason for moments of 'I am gooder than you'.
Upon the recognisation of sin, we must embrace them once again... we must love them once again.. to help restore them (refer verse 2 Cor 2:5-11) with all we have. This is what the Bible teaches us about forgiveness and restoration.
To help illustrate...
I once had a huge problem with churches kicking out homosexual pastors, ignoring them till the brink of death. And I thought, stupid churches... how 'Christian' of them. But I fail to see the whole aspect of repentance, and on what the Bible teaches regarding this.
So it is incumbent upon the believers to point out the sin in order for repentance (refer to what Jesus said in Matthew 18:15-17). If those who are in sin refuse to acknowledge it, we have to treat them as non-believers.
Here is where I see an inconsistency within the church. Treatment of non-believers is not an excuse for marginalisation... our Lord Jesus Christ afterall died for the sinners, not the saints. So how do we treat non-believers? Well, we just don't invite them into the fellowship of the beilevers, nor do we trust them with teaching or ministering or serving. But we still love them... as how Christ did. But we must not be made out to be associated with them... yet, love cannot be denied from them so that we always offer reconciliation (refer 2 Cor 5:20).
Refering to the case above with homosexuality among pastors, it is important to remember that excluding them from the fellowship is imperative for we cannot be seen as condoning their lifestyle. But as christians, the hope of reconciliation must never be taken away. We must always offer that chance... as Christ did to us.
The church is not impervious to sin, we all know that. But we need not fear it... because of the grace and love Christ has shown us. I am grateful that Christ is a God of many chances.... I need all the help I can get. So I will still sin unfortunately, till the day I die. But rest assured, Christ will be there to forgive and help me get through it all.
As He will with you.
Amen.
Grace fellow readers *big smile*,
sheryl
